Written questions by Jones.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential economic impact of a free trade agreement with India on the egg industry in the UK.

The first mission of this Government is to drive economic growth, Free Trade Agreements have a critical role to play in delivering that mission.The Secretary of State announced the Government’s intention to deliver the UK’s Free Trade Agreement programme, including India in July 2024. Our trade programme is driven by stakeholder engagement, including with egg producers and their representative organisations.In line with our parliamentary commitments, we will publish an independently scrutinised Impact Assessment once the agreement has been signed which will cover the economic impacts of the deal.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2024 to Question 8571 on Trade Agreements: Parliamentary Scrutiny, what options he is considering for wider scrutiny arrangements for trade agreements.

The Government is considering all aspects of this issue. All arrangements must be proportionate and in line with the UK’s overarching constitutional framework. We need to balance effective parliamentary scrutiny whilst still ensuring the Government can negotiate effectively in the UK’s best interest.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of maintaining regulatory alignment with the European Union.

The Government continues to follow EU regulatory developments with interest and engages regularly with the EU on key regulatory developments, including through TCA structures such as the Trade Specialised Committees. I can confirm that my officials will consider the impact of UK regulatory changes through impact assessments or proportionate analysis.

If he will make it his policy to foster collaboration between (a) UK regulatory authorities and (b) relevant EU agencies on (i) expertise, (ii) data and (iii) best practices for manufactured goods (A) regulation and (B) safety.

This Government values strong UK-EU trading relations and recognises the importance of regulatory cooperation to maximising the benefits from our trade relationship, including ensuring consumer safety. The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) provides a basis for cooperation in respect of manufactured goods. The TCA's sectoral working groups facilitate mutual information exchange and discussion of regulatory developments in motor vehicles and parts, medicinal and organic products. This Government is also committed to advancing discussions on systematic exchange of data on unsafe non-food products as outlined in the TCA and looks forward to exploring further opportunities for UK-EU collaboration.

If he will make it his policy to negotiate mutual recognition of conformity assessment results between the European Union and the United Kingdom.

This Government is committed to working with the EU to identify areas where we can strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit and realise the potential of the UK-EU relationship by tackling unnecessary barriers to trade to support growth in the UK and Europe.

If he will make it his policy to require the Board of Trade to produce an annual trade report which assesses the UK's trade policy developments.

The Department for Business and Trade is currently reviewing the Board of Trade and a decision on appointments and future direction of the Board will be made soon.

What steps he plans to take to ensure that Parliament has meaningful powers to (a) scrutinise trade negotiations as they progress and (b) (i) debate and (ii) vote on trade treaties ahead of ratification.

The Government is committed to supporting parliamentary scrutiny of the UK’s trade agreements, balancing the need for robust scrutiny with the need to ensure we can negotiate effectively in the UK’s best interests. Free trade agreements are subject to parliamentary scrutiny under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, prior to ratification. The Department for Business and Trade is currently considering wider scrutiny arrangements for trade agreements, to ensure they are fit for purpose.

Which stakeholders his Department plans to consult during the development of his proposed trade strategy.

We recognise the importance of stakeholder engagement, which will play a crucial role in the development of the trade strategy. We will share further details on stakeholders' involvement in due course.

Whether he plans to make the strengthening of UK climate commitments a priority during the negotiation of free trade agreements.

This Government is committed to being an international leader on environmental issues, including tackling climate change, achieving net zero and delivering growth.The FTAs with Australia, New Zealand and CPTPP include binding commitments such as non-derogation from their environmental laws, and affirm international environment and climate commitments including the Paris Agreement. The UK is committed to promoting high environmental standards and deepening cooperation with trade partners on climate and environment issues.

What steps his Department is taking to support the construction industry in (a) Berkshire and (b) the UK.

Our priorities to support growth and investment in the construction sector across the UK include: maximising economic benefits of HMG investment in construction and infrastructure; helping industry become more productive and sustainable, encouraging adoption of new technologies, decarbonisation and greater investment in its workforce; working to improve the business environment including payment practices; and supporting trade and investment in construction products and services. The Government is working with the construction industry to build capacity and capability to deliver its infrastructure and built environment commitments. The introduction of Skills England will be crucial to providing high quality training for construction workers.